Atlantic Guards

The Atlantic Guards were an American nativist street gang who were active in The Bowery section of Manhattan, New York City from the 1840s to the 1860s. They were formed as nativist vigilante groups focused on protecting Bowery neighborhoods, and they wore red-striped trousers as their uniforms. Based on Christopher Street, they allied themselves with William Cutting's Natives gang, and they were staunch rivals of the Irish Catholic Dead Rabbits gang. On 4 July 1857, a Dead Rabbits attack on the Atlantic Guards stronghold led to two straight days of gang warfare before the state militia put down the riots. In July 1863, the Atlantic Guards fought against the Dead Rabbits during the New York draft riots.